autarky

noun

au·​tar·​ky ˈȯ-ˌtär-kē 

1

: self-sufficiency, independence

specifically : national economic self-sufficiency and independence

2

: a policy of establishing a self-sufficient and independent national economy

Examples of autarky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This does not require autarky or hostility toward either Europe or China. — W. Gyude Moore, semafor.com, 25 May 2026

China’s pursuit of energy autarky in the form of nuclear energy and renewable investments has been validated. — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2026

And the Russian economy is resilient in some similar but very different ways, more related to autarky and just the vastness of its natural resources. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026

And while challenges persist, there are already signs that hidebound profligacy is being replaced by newfound autarky. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

Whether or not autarky makes sense for a superpower like America, its allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific will suffer in a world where barriers to trade and investment continue to rise. — Ben Bland, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025

Imperial Russia embraced autarky in the late nineteenth century to avoid vulnerability. — Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin autarkia, borrowed from Greek autárkeia "self-sufficiency," derivative of autárkēs "self-sufficient, strong enough on one's own," from aut- aut- + -arkēs, adjective derivative from the stem of arkéō, arkeîn "to hold off, repel, provide defense, assist, be sufficient, be satisfied" — more at ark

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for autarky

• menarche
• arche
• sparky
• hierarchy
• matriarchy
• oligarchy
• patriarchy